MBABANE – South Star Mdzimba Women’s Zonal League has been boosted with a E10 000 cash injection.
The Women Football Association (WFA) is making strides in ensuring that women in football also get the limelight as males. South Star was approached to help out with the ladies league, which recently started. During the course of the weekend fixtures at Hhukwini Sports Ground, the WFA alongside South Star officially launched the sponsorship of E10 000.
Awarded
WFA Operations Officer Ntandoyenkhosi Hlatshwayo mentioned that as there were six teams in the South Star Mdzimba Zonal League, all of them would be awarded with cash incentives at the end of the season. “All of the six teams will be awarded at the end of the season. The champions will receive a cash prize of E2 500,” said Hlatshwayo. She also mentioned that the sponsorship was agreed to run through the course of their current season and would further engage South Star for continuation. Hlatshwayo continued to cite that other zones were starting to show interest, which means the establishment of the other zonal leagues would be slightly easier. She highlighted that previously they had a challenge with the number of interested ladies, which made starting a league in some zones seemed unrealistic. “We are working closely with Manzini and Lubombo to start zonal leagues there as well, especially with the improved interest,” she said.
ensuring
Hlatshwayo also highlighted briefly on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Licensing Requirement of ensuring that the men’s teams should have a women’s team. She said that as the WFA they would not pressure any men’s team as there were already teams playing in an existent league. The operations officer further highlighted that they were also in the process of determining whether they should start a Super League or a National First Division League for the ladies. This will then form a more structured women football body in terms of competition. As of now in the women football code in the country, teams do not get relegated or promoted.
